One of the most common questions parents ask before booking their newborn photos is: How long will the session take? The short answer is—longer than you might expect. Newborn sessions are not quick, and that’s actually a very important part of creating beautiful, safe, and peaceful images.

Unlike other types of photo sessions, newborn photography moves at the pace of the baby.

Why Newborn Sessions Take Time

Newborns can’t be rushed, and a successful session depends on patience. Babies need time to settle into each pose, and photographers work carefully and gently to ensure they are comfortable and safe throughout the process.

In fact, it’s not unusual for it to take up to 30 minutes just to achieve one pose. Small adjustments, soothing techniques, and careful positioning are all part of creating those calm, sleepy images that parents love.

Breaks Are Part of the Process

During a newborn session with Jen Isackson Photography, breaks are completely normal—and expected. Babies often need time for:

• Feeding
• Diaper changes
• Burping
• Extra cuddles and soothing

These pauses help keep the baby happy and relaxed, which ultimately leads to better photos. A calm baby allows me to work safely and capture those soft, natural moments.

Patience Creates the Best Images

Newborn photography is a slow and gentle process, and that’s by design. Taking the time to properly settle a baby into poses ensures their comfort while also creating the beautiful, peaceful images families treasure for years.

Because of this, newborn sessions simply can’t be done in a short time frame. You will see my Mini Newborn Session is 1 hour in length. This is the shortest time slot and means fewer poses in order to fit the time frame. A Full Newborn Session at Jen Isackson Photography is between 2-2.5 hours in length. The extra time allows me to work safely, follow the baby’s needs, and capture a variety of sweet moments.

The Result Is Worth It

While the session may take longer than a typical photo shoot, the end result is something truly special—timeless images of your baby’s very first weeks. Those tiny details, sleepy expressions, and curled-up poses are fleeting, and giving the session the time it needs, ensures they are captured perfectly.

If you have booked a full newborn session, this includes family photos as well as baby poses. I try to do all family photos first so that siblings and Dad can be out of the studio as quickly as possible. Depending how many children you have, the family portion is usually 30-45 minutes. Then Mom gets to stay with baby while we spend the next 1.5 hours capture precious images of your newborn.